Albert e



(No Model.)

A. E. McGLURE. BUCKLE.

No.520,3' 74. Patented May 22,1894.

ALBERT E. MOCLURE, OF 'SEDALIA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCLURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,374, dated May 22, 1894. Application filed August 13, 1892. Renewed April 16, 1894. Serial No. 507,778. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. MCCLURE, a citizenofthel nited States, residing atSedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri,- haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of buckles which dispense with teeth, prongs or similar devices which enter or engage the strap or material secured by the buckle, and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved buckle of this class which will possess advantages in point of simplicity and inexpensiveness in construction, convenience and ease of adjustment in operation, durability and general efficiency, and which will be especially adapted for eifective use upon gloves or similar articles or for light purposes.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buckle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail top or plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail side view. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the under side. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line :c0s, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line y-y, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the parts separated.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters and numerals of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the frame or main member of my improved buc kle. This frame is approximately hexagonal in shape, and of skeleton or open form, and comprises side bars, a a, a rear cross bar, a, and a front cross bar, (1 In practice, I prefer to construct this frame of a single piece of wire bent into form and having its ends meeting at the center of the rear cross bar, as herein shown, the portion formingthe front cross bar 0, being thus at the center of the piece of wire and being preferably curved in approximately semi-circular shape, as illustrated.

A designates a cross bar which is secured to the main frame A at about the .center of the latter and is preferably formed of. a piece of wire having its ends, a a bent to form eyes which embrace the side pieces a a of the frame, the side pieces being preferably bent inwardly at this point, when the frame is formed entirely of wire as herein shown, to provide recesses, a which accommodate the ends of the cross bar and provide for the secure retention of the latterin position. This construction securely obviates any displacement or movement of the main cross bar A upon the frame. The cross bar A divides the frame of the buckle into two portions, to wit:- a main rear portion, 1, and an outer front portion, 2, the latter of which forms a free lifting end by which the buckle may be operated to permit of the adjustment of the strap.

B designates a sliding cross bar or member which is mounted upon the side bars a a of the main portion 1 of the frame and has a slidingmovementthereon. Thisslidingcross bar B is preferably formed of a piece of wire having its ends bent to form eyes, I) b, which loosely embrace the sidebars acrof the frame.

In the application of my improved buckle to specific purposes, a sleeve, 0, is preferably provided, this sleeve being formed of a metal plate or strap the central portion of which embraces the rear cross bar a of the frame A while the ends are brought together and may be secured toashoe, glove or in any other adapted position, by means of an eyelet or other suitable device. This securing piece 0, when formed of metal, serves to clamp the ends of the wire forming the frame of the buckle together at their meeting point and thus provides a secure construction when the frame is formed of wire. The securin g piece C may be formed of a flexible strap, when desired, or any other adapted form of securing device may be employed. It will be noted that the frame of the buckle has a pivotal bearing upon the cross bar a at its rear end.

In practice, the strap, string or other do vice, S, to be secured has its free end first passed upwardly through the frame A in rear of the sliding cross bar B, then over said cross bar and downwardly again through the frame. Tension upon the strap S pulls the sliding cross bar B forward so that the strap binds upon the sliding cross bar and against the fixed cross bar A of the frame and is thus se curely retained in position. Increased tension upon the strapserves to more securely blnd or look the strap in the buckle. To disengage the strap or loosen it to permit of adustment, it is only necessary to lift theouter end of the frame, which may be readily accomplished by engagement of the outer portion 2 with the thumb or finger. When the outer end of the frame is thus elevated, the buckle has a pivotal movement upon the rear cross bar a, and the elevating of the frame in conjunction with the tension of the strap causes a rearward movement of the sliding cross bar B from the fixed cross bar A, thus releasing the strap and permitting it to be readily adjusted.

The strap S may be provided at its free end with a ring or other retaining device, 8, to obviate accidental disengagement of the free end of the strap from the buckle.

While I prefer, in the practical manufacture of my invention, to make the buckle entirely of wire as herein shown, especially when 1t is to be used for light purposes upon gloves, shoes, or in similar positions, it will be manifest that the buckle may be made of flat metal, that the main frame and cross bar A may be made in one piece, that the outer projecting portion 2 may be dispensed with and any suitable means employed for lifting the front end of the frame, that the connection of the sliding cross bar with the side bars of the frame may be efiected in any suitable manner, and that various manifest modifications or variations in the details of construction may be made. to all such modifications or changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention and the terms of my claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A buckle comprising the main frame A having the main portion 1, the side bars a a, the rear cross-bar a, the outer projecting portion 2, and the fixed cross-bar A dividing the portions 1 and 2; the single sliding cross-bar or member mounted upon the main portion lot the frame and having its ends engaging and sliding upon the said side bars act of the main portion 1; and a securing sleeve or band 0 projecting from the rear cross-bar a, whereby the single sliding cross-bar B is adapted to move toward the fixed cross-bar A and lifting of the outer projecting portion causes a pivotal movement of the buckle and a rearward movement of the sliding cross-bar B, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT E. MCOLURE.

Witnesses:

J. R. LITTELL, M. J. MCMAHON.

I-therefore reserve the right 

